Weekly Adddresses: Budget Battle [VIDEO]

President Obama and Republicans focused on positive developments in their efforts to reach an agreement to end the federal government shutdown and raising the nation's debt ceiling during their respective weekly internet and radio addresses."It’s a positive development that House Republicans have agreed on the need to avoid the economic consequences of not meeting our country’s commitments," said Obama. "Because once the debt ceiling is raised, and the shutdown is over, there’s a lot we can accomplish together.

Some Senate Republicans are proposing a bill that would reopen the government and increase the federal government's borrowing limit through January.

Obama says in his weekend media address that it wouldn't be wise to "flirt with a first-ever intentional default right in the middle of the holiday shopping season."

A Democratic bill in the Senate proposes lifting the government's borrowing cap through the end of next year. But Republicans plan to reject it in a vote today.

Obama could not resist getting in another dig at the GOP, however, calling it a "Republican shutdown" and continuing to lay blame at the feet of Republicans. "Our government is closed for the first time in 17 years. A political party is risking default for the first time since the 1700s. This is not normal. That’s why we have to put a stop to it. Not only because it’s dangerous, but because it saps everyone’s faith in our extraordinary system of self-government. And that hurts us all."

California Representative Buck McKeon said that both sides found some common ground in talks this week in making sure the families of fallen members of the military receive death benefits and their pay. "We shouldn't stop there," said McKeon, urging passage of piecemeal funding bills.

“Sitting down and resolving our differences is exactly what Americans expect their leaders to do, especially at times like this,” McKeon said.

McKeon said the negotiations are “about making sure there’s fairness for everyone under the president’s health care law – so that hardworking people like you get the same relief big businesses have received."